Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT348
2008-03-17 12:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN: LIMITED BANDWIDTH AND PRICE HINDER PROGRESS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI KPAO TX 
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
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FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000348 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, EEB, DS/SI/IS, DS/SI/CS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: LIMITED BANDWIDTH AND PRICE HINDER PROGRESS
ON INTERNET ACCESS A YEAR INTO REFORM

REF: A) 07 ASHGABAT 0241, B) 07 ASHGABAT 0862, C) 07 ASHGABAT 1144,
D) ASHGABAT 0052

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000348

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, EEB, DS/SI/IS, DS/SI/CS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: LIMITED BANDWIDTH AND PRICE HINDER PROGRESS
ON INTERNET ACCESS A YEAR INTO REFORM

REF: A) 07 ASHGABAT 0241, B) 07 ASHGABAT 0862, C) 07 ASHGABAT 1144,
D) ASHGABAT 0052


1. Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Over a year into reforms under President
Berdimuhamedov, Internet access for ordinary citizens is still
limited. Despite the President's early steps towards providing
Internet cafes and his statements that all citizens should have
access to the Internet, little progress has been made beyond the
words. This may be another case of where the president knew where
he wanted the country to go, without anyone having a complete
understanding of what it takes to get there. Poor capacity and
technological problems, such as limited bandwidth, are major
factors. Telephone infrastructure, both land lines and cell phones,
is also poor. There are no affordable private or commercial
Internet service providers for the general public. Foreign and
international missions which provide public Internet access --
particularly the Embassy's Information Resource Center (IRC) --
remain a critical component of Internet access in Turkmenistan. The
current Internet environment is also reason to step up U.S. efforts
to support public Internet access. END SUMMARY.

A GOOD START


3. (SBU) The first state Internet cafe was opened in Ashgabat
around the time of President Berdimuhamedov's inauguration in
February 2007. The President made well-publicized comments on the
need for widespread Internet access. The state-controlled press
carried articles explaining the benefits of the Internet. It all
seemed to be paving the way for a major state effort at "wiring" the
country.

STATE CONTROL OF INTERNET ACCESS


4. (SBU) For most people, the only Internet provider in the country
is the state-owned company, Turkmen Telecom. This company offers
only dial-up access, which tends to be slow and unreliable.
Reportedly, no new personal accounts have been granted to users
since 2002. Few own personal computers, so the vast majority of

those who want to use the Internet must rely on state Internet
cafes. While there have been rumors that private companies have
recently been able to obtain Turkmen Telecom accounts, post is
unable to confirm. Individuals have reported that when applying for
Turkmen Telecom accounts they are told none are available for
"technical reasons." (NOTE: Turkmenistan has limited bandwidth. For
example, the Embassy's IRC reportedly has greater bandwidth (2 Mg)
through its two-way satellite dish than the entire Turkmen Telecom
Internet network. END NOTE.)


5. (SBU) The Internet Access and Training Program, which has
re-opened three centers in the past year, is forced to depend on
partners who have held on to Turkmen Telecom accounts since before

2002. There are a handful of expensive two-way satellite dish
Internet Service Providers available in Turkmenistan. However, the
cost is so prohibitively high -- and the bureaucratic hurdles for
gaining approval for satellite Internet lines are so complex -- that
only foreign missions and a few foreign companies use this option.

STATE-OWNED AND STATE-MONITORED INTERNET CAFES


6. (SBU) At present, post is aware of only 15 state-owned Internet
cafes. There are four known state-owned cafes in Ashgabat with the
other eleven dispersed in major regional cities. Prices have gone
down slightly since last year to 60,000 manat (about $3.00 USD) per
hour, which is still very expensive for the average citizen. (NOTE:
The average mid-level breadwinner in Ashgabat earns roughly
$140/month. END NOTE.) Slow and irregular access speeds hardly
justify the expense. One visitor reported spending about an hour to
open a single email. Most cafes typically have no more than one or
two users at a time, although an Ashgabat cafe located next to the

ASHGABAT 00000348 002 OF 003


popular Russian bazaar is frequently crowded, as well as one in Mary
city.


7. (SBU) The use of these computers is heavily, yet inconsistently,
regulated. In most locations, users must give the staff their
passports or identification to register before being permitted to
use the computers. Strangely, two Internet cafe's in Turkmenabat
city do not seem to require any identification. In other cafes,
foreigners have also been allowed use without providing
identification. Most cafe's appear to block opposition websites
with software controls. Reports from spring and summer 2007
indicated that access appeared to be unhindered, but in recent
months users trying to access opposition websites were consistently
blocked. The monitoring and staff intervention are irregular as
well. Staff members at some cafes seem to care little about their
users or their web surfing habits. Meanwhile, cafe employees in
Turkmenabat specifically warn users not to visit certain websites.


INTERNET ACCESS IN SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES


8. (SBU) The government promised the installation of Internet
access in all universities and, initially, in 20 primary schools.
However, access, where it exists at all, is generally slow and not
widely used. University instructors and others say that few people
use their institutions' large, but slow Internet computer labs,
because it is not worth the time spent. The same people prefer
accessing the Internet across town at the Embassy's Information
Resource Center. Although the Ministry of Education claims to have
"wired" twenty primary schools for Internet access, no list of those
schools has ever been provided. Teachers at some schools report
that computer equipment was installed, but as yet Internet access is
not operating.

OTHER STATE-OWNED OPTIONS FOR INTERNET ACCESS?


9. (SBU) The National Library in Turkmenistan was supposed to have
opened a 150-computer Internet cafe/information center for the
public in February 2007. At present, their computers are not
connected to the Internet, due to technical problems. And the
Library director puzzlingly explains that first they will create an
electronic catalog of the library's collection and then they will
connect to the Internet - implying that a catalog is the
pre-requisite. (COMMENT: We wonder if library officials are
planning to create an intranet system that allows users to access
items in the library's collection rather than the Internet. END
COMMENT.) (NOTE: A National Library staff member regularly, but
quietly, accesses the Internet from the Embassy's IRC for work. END
NOTE.)

A PRIVATE OPTION TO SAVE THE DAY? -- NO


10. (SBU) In late 2007, the Russian-owned mobile phone network MTS
advertised that they would soon offer web access via cell phones on
their network in Turkmenistan. Its launch was first slated for
November. Later the start was delayed to January 2008. To date,
MTS has not yet started to provide this service for technical
reasons.

INTERNET ACCESS THROUGH FOREIGN-SPONSORED ENTITIES


11. (SBU) The U.S. Embassy's IRC, American Corners, and IATP
centers, along with UN, OSCE, and UK-supported public Internet
centers remain the only real alternatives. Many of these centers,
especially local partner grantees, are reliant on slow connections
through Turkmen Telecom.
During the past year, monthly usage of the IRC's Internet terminals
has increased by about 50%. Over half of users reported in a recent
survey that they usually wait in line 30 minutes or more for access
to a terminal. And a good number of those users who have tried to
use State Internet Cafes do not go back a second time, due to the

ASHGABAT 00000348 003 OF 003


expense, the connection speeds, the blocking of certain websites,
and the perception that they are being monitored. A recent survey
of users also shows almost universal praise that the United States
is providing such valuable access to information. Users include
some government professionals who use the IRC's Internet for their
work, including state journalists and an employee of the Turkmen
Institute of Democracy and Human Rights (Ref. B). A common
complaint from IRC users is that they would like more Internet
options than either the state or the state-dominated marketplace is
providing.


12. (SBU) COMMENT: Bandwidth limitations and expense seem to have
hindered the growth of Internet access. Despite a well-publicized
and welcome start to providing real Internet access in Turkmenistan,
the government has not been able to follow through. This may be
another case of where the president knew where he wanted the country
to go, without a complete understanding of what it takes to get
there. To overcome this problem, Turkmenistan would have to improve
local infrastructure. Local telephone lines are in such bad
condition that they cannot really support expanded Internet.
Turkmenistan does not have the capability to do WiFi. They would
have to build repeater sites. Outside of limited areas, such as
larger cities, there is no cell phone access. In addition, the
country would have to improve its international gateway connection.
Currently, there is only one through Uzbekistan and there is limited
carrying capacity. All of this could cost tens of millions of
dollars, if not more. END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND